Treatment of various diseases of the blood and immune system is about to be discovered by scientists that reveal the mystery of the origin of stem cells.

Avstraliyskoro study was conducted by the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Monash University, Melbourne. It first establishes a mechanism that "unlocks" the body in the formation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC).

These cells are found in bone marrow and umbilical cord and are extremely important because they can "feed" the stock of blood cells in the body. Patients with leukemia have been successfully treated with HSC transplantation. Medical experts, however, believe that they can come into wider use.

According to the lead researcher - Prof. Peter Curry, understanding the way the HSC is samopodnovyavat to fill blood cells is the "Holy Grail" of stem cell biology.

Hematopoietic stem cells are the best therapeutic agent, since they can produce any cell in the body, said Curry, adding that they could be used for the treatment of severe blood diseases. But before that you need to understand how they emerge.

During this study, researchers observed cells in the developing zebra fish - tropical freshwater fish known for its regenerative abilities and optically visible embryos.

Using a microscope with high resolution scientists capture the manner in which the cells grow. The process of their formation is captured in dramatic detail.

Observations found that HSC need a "friendly" type of cell that help their formation. Metaphorically, the researchers explain that these cells serve as a comfortable sofa where HSC accommodate. Researchers establish whether the genes that are required for the formation of these "friendly" cells.

The most remarkable achievement of the experts is that they can identify the signals in these cells, helper, which are responsible for the formation of HSC, after which they could be used in vitro for the creation of various blood cells to "fix" all types of diseases related to the blood.